boobiemiles Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Back to Story - Help Katrina Victims to Get $2K Debit Cards By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer 31 minutes ago The federal government plans to begin doling out debit cards worth $2,000 each to adult victims of Hurricane Katrina, The Associated Press has learned. Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff descibed the plan in a conference call with state officials Wednesday morning. The unprecedented cash card program initially will benefit stranded people who have been moved to major rescue centers such as the Houston Astrodome. "They are going to start issuing debit cards, $2,000 per adult, today (Wednesday) at the Astrodome," said Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The cards could be used to buy food, transportation, gas and other essentials, according to a state official who was on the call and requested anonymity because the program has not been publicly announced. The available money — $13 billion in all — will be distributed from the federal Disaster Relief Fund, said FEMA spokeswoman Natalie Rule. She said FEMA was setting up registration centers in shelters in Houston and Dallas where evacuees could obtain the cards. FEMA is working to set up similar registration centers in other shelters across the country, Rule said, and evacuees can also get the debit cards by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or going to the agency's web site at http://www.fema.gov. The cards will be issued on a one-per-household basis, Rule said, and are open only to victims who were forced from their homes during the hurricane and its aftermath. As a safeguard against fraud, FEMA will use aerial photographs of devastated areas to verify that the refugees were, indeed, forced from their homes in cases where they cannot provide documents to prove their losses or identities. "We've got a huge population of people that have been evacuated with very little by way of possessions and we have to have a way to make sure these people can function," Rule said. "If there are those who are out there to cheat the system, that is going to be very disappointing. But the main goal is to get the aid out." In Boston, Gov. Mitt Romney said the cards will be offered "to people in shelters as well as people who are not in shelters but who have evacuated the area and need help." He said the hope is the cards will encourage people to leave shelters voluntarily. It's unclear how much the debit card program will cost the government, but it's likely to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars since hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. ___ Associated Press reporters Suzanne Gamboa and Lara Jakes Jordan contributed to this report. Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Questions or Comments Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy - Ad Feedback If the demographics are right, then this would be done in great error. They would have to limit what you can spend it on. I know this might be messed up to say, but if you give people money that never had it before they spend it on dumb things..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Oh no, don't give those poor people money to survive...they're too dumb to use it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 BM, why is that not good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portisizzle Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 How much crack will $2,000 buy you??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Jones Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 How much crack will $2,000 buy you??? That is just not nice, funny, but not nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 How much crack will $2,000 buy you??? Great stereotype. I'm sure the vast majority of hurricane victims are crack heads, who happen to know crack dealers that accept government debit cards. Why is it you right wing nuts never fail to shout out how the majority of the nation agrees with the moral lunacy you preach and the left is out of touch....yet when it comes to helping people you talk about what the extreme minority of aid be used incorrectly. If 90% are helped while the other 10% buy drugs, GOOD. I can live with those odds, instead of screwing everyone to better placate they absurd fears of the always scared of something right wingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 How much crack will $2,000 buy you??? Right, because all the Hurricane Victims are crack addicts from the projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Great stereotype. I'm sure the vast majority of hurricane victims are crack heads, who happen to know crack dealers that accept government debit cards. Why is it you right wing nuts never fail to shout out how the majority of the nation agrees with the moral lunacy you preach and the left is out of touch....yet when it comes to helping people you talk about what the extreme minority of aid be used incorrectly. If 90% are helped while the other 10% buy drugs, GOOD. I can live with those odds, instead of screwing everyone to better placate they absurd fears of the always scared of something right wingers. You don't understand Destino. These people who got displaced, they're stupid and they're poor. They just aint smart enough to use that money for food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rook Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 You don't understand Destino. These people who got displaced, they're stupid and they're poor. They just aint smart enough to use that money for food. My guess is you didn't make a donation to the relief fund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteve Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 My guess is you didn't make a donation to the relief fund. You don't understand, atleast the relief fund is in the hands of capable people. But boy, you start handing victims $2K cards and there'll be hell to pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte51Coleman Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 How much crack will $2,000 buy you??? I don't know. How much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I am sure there will be some abuses,just like people scam relief operations,but these people are in need and it is a reasonable idea. Now excuse me while I go get my fix before they get it all BTW how many dealers take plastic,we must REALLY be uptown now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boobiemiles Posted September 7, 2005 Author Share Posted September 7, 2005 Best thing to do is cut this figure in half. I didn't infer that the victims will use the money for crack. What I want is to ficilitate more economic growth. Take half of the money and use it to entice enterprise in the area that can give these guys employment, and maintain their funds so they can get on their feet. The first thousand can be used for provisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonnyRules Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 BTW how many dealers take plastic,we must REALLY be uptown now I do applaud this effort. The vast majority of these folks certainly could use the assistance. With that in mind, it seems that many know how to turn food stamps into crack; the credit card doesn't have a chance....they'll find a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsFan#1 Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I'm with boobiemiles on this one. I'm not sure tossing cash around is goign to solve the problem. Its a short term fix, and one that is probably more expensive than providing food and shelter. At least the government is trying to do the right thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Best thing to do is cut this figure in half. I didn't infer that the victims will use the money for crack. What I want is to ficilitate more economic growth. Take half of the money and use it to entice enterprise in the area that can give these guys employment, and maintain their funds so they can get on their feet. The first thousand can be used for provisions. Why don't we do that with ALL federal assistance,workfare instead of welfare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjTj Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Why don't we do that with ALL federal assistance,workfare instead of welfare Sounds suspiciously like something that happenned during the Clinton years... ...I'm sure plenty of money is also being spent on economic redevelopment. In fact, I'll bet it will be much more than $2k in the end. Saying split in in half is no different than saying to spend $2k on the other side (except the amount, of course). This is a great way not only to distribute aid but to provide an enticement for people to actually evacuate and to be accounted for. Making everyone check in will certainly help reunite some families. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Great stereotype. I'm sure the vast majority of hurricane victims are crack heads, who happen to know crack dealers that accept government debit cards. Why is it you right wing nuts never fail to shout out how the majority of the nation agrees with the moral lunacy you preach and the left is out of touch....yet when it comes to helping people you talk about what the extreme minority of aid be used incorrectly. If 90% are helped while the other 10% buy drugs, GOOD. I can live with those odds, instead of screwing everyone to better placate they absurd fears of the always scared of something right wingers. I agree Destino... please don't lump us all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade7 Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 That is just not nice, funny, but not nice. :doh: That's not even funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 I'm with boobiemiles on this one. I'm not sure tossing cash around is goign to solve the problem. Its a short term fix, and one that is probably more expensive than providing food and shelter.At least the government is trying to do the right thing You guys some of this money is so they can still pay their bills. Just because they have nothing does not mean the collectors won't be calling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portisizzle Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Great stereotype. I'm sure the vast majority of hurricane victims are crack heads, who happen to know crack dealers that accept government debit cards. Why is it you right wing nuts never fail to shout out how the majority of the nation agrees with the moral lunacy you preach and the left is out of touch....yet when it comes to helping people you talk about what the extreme minority of aid be used incorrectly. If 90% are helped while the other 10% buy drugs, GOOD. I can live with those odds, instead of screwing everyone to better placate they absurd fears of the always scared of something right wingers. 1) Who exactly am I stereotyping?? 2) Ever heard of an ATM machine?? 3) How is a $2,000 hand out "helping" people?? I am eagerly awaiting your response....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Best thing to do is cut this figure in half. I didn't infer that the victims will use the money for crack. What I want is to ficilitate more economic growth. Take half of the money and use it to entice enterprise in the area that can give these guys employment, and maintain their funds so they can get on their feet. The first thousand can be used for provisions. Then what exactly DID you infer? if you give people money that never had it before they spend it on dumb things. Nothing qualified at all in that statement. Poor people spend money stupidly. OK, instead of crack maybe you meant booze, color TVs or floppy hats, but the principle is the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 3) How is a $2,000 hand out "helping" people?? Man, you have twisted yourself up into ideological machinations so far as to be unable to perceive reality. If you suddenly discovered that you had inherited $2000, would you reject it and turn it in to the government? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portisizzle Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Man, you have twisted yourself up into ideological machinations so far as to be unable to perceive reality.If you suddenly discovered that you had inherited $2000, would you reject it and turn it in to the government? No, I would go buy a T.V. But thanks for asking. Many others on this site like to put words in my mouth. Including many on this thread..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 No, I would go buy a T.V. Would you say, then, that the $2000 had made you better off or worse off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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